13342/Fish and Chips

Fish and Chips
Date of Scene:	12 November 2022
Location:	Chelsea Piers
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Zatanna Zatara, Namor

---

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The family is old but then again, who's isn't? But not many people can claim that their family home migrates on occasion. They hold something in common with the Romani - magic, and nomadism. Keeping up with the family's holdings can be a chore, which is why Zatanna has portaled to New York. 'The Sea Dragon' needed a refit, and she has arranged for it to be hauled into the Chelsea dry dock.

Papers signed after the yacht is dragged into a cradle, Zatanna goes in search of what is rumored to be the best-undiscovered fish and chips in New York, said to rival London's chippies.

'The Kraken and Spud' is only known to locals and those lucky enough to have heard of it. It makes no concessions to glamour, having sawdust on the floor, bar seats last covered at the beginning of the seventies, a well-worn bar with a mirror behind it, and a concise menu: Cod and chips, halibut and chips, and lobster rolls and chips. Hot cooking oil smells redolent in the air, married with draft beer.

A jukebox with a complete list of country music and sea shanties is cranking out some Hank Williams when a tall, slim woman with raven hair holds the entrance door ajar to collapse her umbrella and slip it into the big holder next to it. She could have magically kept the rain off of herself, but prefers to defer explanations in the unlikely case someone notices. Zee has been accused of overusing spells on occasion, notably by anyone associated with Bruce Wayne.

Contrary to habit, Zatanna wears black jeans tucked into knee-high boots under a black cashmere coat. With a wave to the bartender, she traverses the large rectangular room to a booth near the bar, hangs up her coat on a hook. She settles in, studying the menu and waits for the server to take her order. The woman (possibly the last owner of a bouffant hairdo in New York) comes over to her table, asking as she takes out an order pad from her apron pocket, "Whaddya want, hon?

Namor has posed:
Earlier that day....

Something was moving in the waters. Fishermen and dock-keepers say that they saw a /man/ get out of the water and walk on dry-land wearing some kind of strange clothes. He demanded a different kind of wear...and was given it in the form of spare clothing. He starts to move, his hair slicked back, wet with saltwater. His eyes a cold form of blue.

The Kraken and Spud.

Some kind of good cuisine, even similar to the great delicacies of Atlantis in the form of it's classic meal: fish and chips. When the jukebox is playing, the door is opened with something of a light, tender touch. He looks around the place, before he moves to look around, only for it to be a full house. He turns to see the beautiful raven-haired woman sitting by herself at a booth with the waitress tending to her.

"May I sit with you?"

Manners, in this instance, may be the best way to go.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Manners around the woman in question are the best way to go. There is an old-world reserve in the calm face that looks up at him. Her sapphire eyes quickly assess the room and the full bar stools then return to the man who would stand out in any room for his handsome looks and unusual eyes. Yet, she senses something more.

With a nod and hand held out to the other side of the booth, she accepts the stranger.

"It does look rather crowded tonight. Be my guest." The voice matches her face and posture, quiet, well-modulated and confident without any discernible accent.

Namor has posed:
Namor bows his head in appreciation to the woman in the booth, slowly taking his seat across from her. "I would like to have a water, please." He tells the waitress, if she still remained. Did the mistress of magic know she sat across from the emperor of all the oceans and seas on earth? All of Atlantean culture answered to him, just as many mystic societies answer to her.

"Would you tell me your name? I would know who would give me such a kindness." His eyes rest on her now, fully, taking in all of her exotic and rare beauty. The eyes never lie, and her voice is confident and formal.

A woman who knows her talent and her craft, and won't let anyone tell her otherwise. A remarkable person. Namor always had a good read of people. Time will tell if he's correct about this one.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The waitress shifts her attention back to the man, and pen in hand pats her stiff hair, not immune to the man's looks.

"A water. Is that everything for ya?" she repeats with only a touch of dissatisfaction before returning her attention to Zatanna.

"Ah, I'd like an IPA if you have one on draft and a lobster roll and fries, please."

When the waitress has left, she answers his question, "Zatanna Zatarra."

There is magic in the man, when she focuses on him, it shines like a lighthouse on a dark night. With a tilt to her head, and a faint frown furrowing her fine eyebrows, "And your name is...?"

Namor has posed:
"and your famous Fish and chips." Namor replies with a bit of a smile. The man was /beautiful/. At least by the more classial, Grecian means. He turns to Zatanna then, after the waitress leaves. "Zatanna Zatarra. A wonderful name. Do you have a nickname of preference? Maybe Zee, or Zanna?" He asks of her, attempting to be friendly. Though she looks upon him.

"Hm...Namor Mackenzie." He introduces himself with a playful smile. "What brings you to this place? A woman of your beauty would be more likely to be leading a congregation, or a model somewhere." Namor chuckles a little bit.

"Not that you should be any of those things. I find it merely...surprising."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Coming right up," the waitress replies promptly and leaves. At the bar, her strident voice carries over the music and conversation in the crowded room. "Pull one IPA, Stan."

Zatanna is in the business to know who is who among the 'gifted' in the world. In the Justice League it comes with the territory. She tests the name, "Namor...MacKenzie?"

One side of her mouth pulls into a faint smile as she asks, "Lately from the deeps of the Atlantic?" What she does not mention is that she occasionally works with someone she suspects may be a relative of his. Caution keeps her from mentioning him.

The smile deepens somewhat as she nods slowly, "You flatter me."

Briskly, she adds, "And I go where I want. Today, I'm on family business in New York. Besides, I like good food and would rather eat standing at a food truck than be served something mediocre on fine linen. Call me choosy if you like."

With a hint of a challenge in her words, tempered by the smile in her eyes, "What brings -you- to a dive like this?"

Namor has posed:
"Thank you." With the waitress dispatched for their meals and drinks, his eyes suddenly turn towards Zatanna, looking her in the eyes. "Hm. Indeed. Emperor of the Deep and Prince of hte Blood. How do you do?" A faint smile paints itself across his features as he looks at her, though she somewhat briskley replies that she goes where she wisehes and she's on family business. "Hm...so it would seem. It's not shameful to choose the finer things in life."

Though he sees that challenge in her words, tempered only by that charming smile that is intoxicating every time she brandishes it. "At times, I like to 'slum it' as you call it." He smirks. "Enjoy the surface at times, smell the air. This time happened to be fish and chips." He scoffs.

"I am quite the flatterer, Zatanna Zatara, Mistress of Magic and Master of the Mystic Arts." Yeah, she's not the only one who wants to know the who's who.

"And, occasionally, meet beautiful mysterious women." That last bit seems to be a joke.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The magician unveiled, meets his gaze, then lowers her eyes as she bows her head, saying, "It would seem I am no mystery at all, Your Imperial Highness."

Lifting her eyes, mischief and challenge dance in her words, spoken with quiet directness, "And how is the smell of New York?" She sniffs, "They do do a good fish and chips here. You won't be disappointed."

The waitress flashes by with a heavily laden tray and places a mug of beer misted with condensation before Zatanna and a glass of water for Namor.

Zee lifts the glass to him, "I heartily agree. There is nothing shameful in the finer things. Though, I don't always share other people's opinions on what those are."

She pauses, eyebrows lifting in question, "So is it just a taste for slumming and fish and chips that brings you to the surface?"

Namor has posed:
'Your Imperial Highness'.

"Why Zatanna, flattery will get you everywhere." He returns the bow of the head. "Surprisingly amount like your so called cheeseburgers." Namor jokes, though he nods. "So I have heard. Though if I am disappointed, the entirety of the oceans will know of it." He teases her with a playful wink.

Though he suddenly looks at his water and he takes a sip of it, meeting Zatanna's offer of cheers with one of his own. "Imperius Rex." He grins.

"And what are the finer things to you?" He asks her, and she asks him if that's all that brings him to the surface, he nods. "One among few. The Asgardian Thor has been making adjustments. I would assist him, if I can." He informs her, though he looks her in the eyes.

"Anything else would have to come up on it's own."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Shaking her head, Zee bites back a smile at his gallantry. At his mention of Thor, the smile sobers. "I am about to tell you something and depend on your discretion. Thor has disappeared though it is -not- public knowledge. We are searching for him."

The mage looks away, taking a deep breath, her gaze distant, "It was during the final ceremony, binding the realms together at the Starport. We were attacked and not everyone returned. And it was a close call for us all. But...well." She sighs, one shoulder lifting slightly in a shrug and says no more.

Namor has posed:
"Oh? Do tell."

Thor has disappeared. Vanished into thin air. He rests his chin on the bridge his hands make when they settle in front of him. "Disappeared? Hm...unlikely the supposed Thunderer is dead." Namor comments somewhat sardonically. He looks down at the table then, humming.

"Binding the various realms and realities was bound to be met with a response from any who would keep such forces separate." Namor replies with a soft tone, as if thinking about it.

"My apologies. Atlantis will send a guard to th starport in force, to prevent such things from happening again."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"It's what we -hope-," Zatanna affirms, then leans forward slightly and lowers her voice. "Please keep the information to yourself, sir. Even if the motive was only to stop the Starport from being connected to the Nine Realms it has left us without Odinson."

Zatanna falls silent, catching sight of someone approaching them from the corner of her eye and leans back. The waitress squeezes between two patrons with a fully laden tray, then deftly slips a big platter heaped with fried fish and golden fries in front of Namor. Ketchup, malted vinegar, salt and pepper follow in quick succession along with Zatanna's plate of lobster roll and fries.

"Let me know if I can get you anything else." The waitress waits a moment.

With a glance at Namor, Zee shakes her head, saying, "Thank you, no."

Once the waitress is gone, she continues. "The spell worked. So it is only logical to surmise that disrupting links to the Nine Realms was not the main purpose of the attack," frowning she picks up a fry.

"Bon appetite."

Namor has posed:
"Your secret is safe with me." Namor remarks to Zatanna, seemingly appreciatng being let in on secret intelligence, as it were. Though he looks upon Zatanna for a moment, being without Thor Odinson makes Asgard vulnerable, no doubt, if left without their chiefest warrior. Though they still have Odin Allfather and Thor's siblings, the warriors three, etc. It is still a blow for him to be missing.

The plate is put in front of Namor and he immediately begins to eat. "No. More than likely, they wished to strip you of a powerful warrior and leader, thinking you guideless."

He shrugs. "At least, that would be my assumption. Do you have leads?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The magician's expression closes and she occupies herself with a bite of the sandwich. "Hmmmph, this is so good. Good fries, too." Zee tilts her head to the side and lifts a shoulder.

"We are working on it. But we still don't have anything definitive."

She chases the bite with a sip of beer. After another bite of the lobster roll, she dabs her mouth with a napkin then leans back, blue eyes fixed on him inquisitively, "Do you often come to New York to slum?"

Namor has posed:
"Very. Surprising, among cuisines of the surface world. Perhaps I have some time to change my mind after all." Namor seems vaguely amused, popping a golden french fry into his mouth and swallowing it with a satisfied gulp. Zatanna tells him they are working on finding Thor.

"So I see. If you require help...do not hesitate to ask." For Namor too is a thunderer of the sort. Perhaps it takes those born of the Maelstrom to find one another. Though he takes a sip of his water.

"Sometimes. Other times I'll go to Africa, or Gotham, or Europe." He explains with a bit of a smirk. "Do you so often spend time among those of the Unknowing? Those who do not know about the existence of magic?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The muscles around her mouth tighten slightly, "If my work takes me among them, yes. We are here to protect them from other forces in the universe. But I don't spend my time exclusively with people like myself."

A few more bites of her sandwich leaves Zatanna with a plate of rapidly cooling fries. She finishes one more off, leaving the rest.

"Excuse me," she says, then rises, eyes searching the room for the waitress. With a smile, she makes a check sign in the air.

Back in her seat, "It was lovely meeting you, Namor. I'll get the check. I have business in Gotham this evening. Have a lovely evening slumming, Your Highness."